French Branch of Scientology Is Convicted of Fraud 622
The trial we discussed this spring has come to a verdict, and
reader lugannerd was one of several to note a milestone in the fight against the Church of Scientology. "The French branch of the Church of Scientology was convicted of fraud and fined nearly $900,000 on Tuesday by a Paris court. But the judges did not ban the church entirely, as the prosecution had demanded, saying that a change in the law prevented such an action for fraud. The church said it would appeal. The verdict was among the most important in several years to involve the controversial group, which is registered as a religion in the United States but has no similar legal protection in France. It is considered a sect here, and says it has some 45,000 adherents, out of some 12 million worldwide. It was the first time here that the church itself had been tried and convicted, as opposed to individual members."
who really won the trial? (Score:5, Funny)
The French BRANCH, eh? (Score:1, Funny)
So we have successfully chopped a branch off the TREE of Scientology? Should we continue to ROOT out more or should we LEAF it alone and look at other places to STEM our anger?
Re:Fine? (Score:5, Funny)
How much is a whetstone bridg.. errr.. "Thetan Detector" reading going for nowadays? They'll just tell their culti.. err.. members that they all need to come in for a refresher scan at $100 a pop because this incident might have caused a Thetan eruption and Xenu might be now able to come out from behind the moon in his ship, so they have to monitor galvanic respons.. sorry.. THETAN levels more carefully for a while.
Re:The Ammunition for Both Sides (Score:5, Funny)
No one expects the French Inquisition!
No, really. No one at all. Complete surprise.
Re:The French BRANCH, eh? (Score:1, Funny)
So we have successfully chopped a branch off the TREE of Scientology? Should we continue to ROOT out more or should we LEAF it alone and look at other places to STEM our anger?
It's o.k., their BARK is louder than their bite.
Re:The Ammunition for Both Sides (Score:5, Funny)
Our chief weapon is fear. Fear and surprise.
And a two dollar fine.
Re:slashdot caved (Score:3, Funny)
"They are incessant, aggressive, and well-funded."
Perhaps RMS could make a deal with them. Imagine if "free" software became part of Scientology's dogma!
Re:The Ammunition for Both Sides (Score:1, Funny)
Their TWO chief weapons are surrendering, running away and bad body odour. Our THREE....Right, I'll go out and post again.
Re:Why don't they go after the catholic church? (Score:5, Funny)
Sects, sects, sects, is that all you kids think about?
Re:Wheatstone bridge (Score:3, Funny)
Sorry, typo. My Thetans must be high. See?
Re:Wake me up when... (Score:5, Funny)
Leprechauns don't make sense.
Only because they're drunk all the time.
Re:who really won the trial? (Score:5, Funny)
I say its time to rename Freedom Fries to French Fries.
Re:who really won the trial? (Score:5, Funny)
I would make a comment about it being a pyramid scheme religion, but that does apply to too many religions for it have any punch.
Damned Egyptians.
Re:Holy fuck! (Score:2, Funny)
You don't exist. (Score:3, Funny)
An Atheist is a 'A thieist', where a theist is someone who believes in a god. It seems plain to me that you need to found a movement of 'Aatheists'. Until you do this though, I refuse to believe you or that you don't believe in Athesim, making me an Aaatheist.
Chant some Rene Descartes mantras, and hope for the best.
Re:who really won the trial? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Wake me up when... (Score:4, Funny)
FWIW, I'm a Christian and I've never felt "pressured" by my local church body to spend money on something I didn't want.
If you feel you've been missing something, you can probably join online [scientology.org] !
Re:Fine? (Score:3, Funny)